FIFA send final warning to Nigeria and Ghana before facing ban

FIFA has issued a final warning to Nigeria and Ghana as both countries might face international suspensions in August from the football governing body.

Conflict with Nigeria began when a court case announced the appointment of Chris Giwa as chairman of the Nigerian Football Federation ‘NFF’, removing elected President Amaju Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi

FIFA threatened to suspend the country from all international competitions due to undue influence unless the headquarters of the NFF was is returned to its elected board by Monday, 20 August 2018, at 12:00 (CET).

However, the announcement clarified that if the suspension started it will not affect Nigeria’s women U-20 team as an exception will be made for the team given that they are currently competing at the World Cup in France.

As for Ghana, FIFA said that the suspension will be imposed on August 27 if they did not reverse the court order made that resulted in the dissolution of the country’s football association.

The scandal has indicted 66 Ghanaian referees as well as 14 FA officials in taking bribes, with the FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi finding himself in the midst of the allegations.

Nyantakyi resigned from his position as President in addition to resigning from positions he held with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football ‘CAF’. The former chairman was also later banned from all football activities by FIFA.

It is worth mentioning that enforcing the ban will stop the national football teams of the two countries from resuming their African Cup of Nations qualification campaigns on September 8, as Nigeria is set to travel to meet Seychelles while Ghana is supposed to play against Kenya.